Like many kids in the Ames community, the trio grew up attending Cyclone youth basketball camps over the summer and games in the winter.

“We'd look at them on the court, then go back to the gym and be like, 'Oh my gosh, I bet Brynn did this move,' and then try to do it,” Hawthorne told the Tribune. “We'd try to picture us as them.”

Those three grew up in awe of the ISU players and have now grown into top players for Ames High (Waite and Iiams) and Gilbert (Hawthorne). They see ISU players more as peers and less as idols nowadays, but it's evident that the younger generation in Ames continues to look up to the ISU women's basketball team. Girls line up to high-five the Cyclones as they run onto the court for second halves in Hilton Coliseum and wait for autographs after the game.

The Cyclones are enjoying one of their best years in recent memory; they're currently ranked No. 13 in the country with a 25-8 record and are expected to host NCAA tournament games next week.

Despite the ups and downs of recent seasons, what hasn't changed is their impact on the community, specifically girls in the Ames area.

ISU coach Bill Fennelly is aware of the unique influence his players can have on young fans who watch them play in Hilton.

“There are kids who come to our games, they're not basketball fans, but they're Bridget (Carleton) fans, they're Ashley Joens fans,” Fennelly told the Ames Tribune, “and that turns out to be — maybe they're not gonna be basketball players, but, 'I'm gonna be a good pianist, journalist,' anything where you're seeing someone who looks like you — who used to look like you, because at some point, Bridget was a six-year old girl. 'Wow, that's possible? And they're being treated this way, they're being supported this way?'”

Each summer, ISU players interact with kids of all ages during basketball camps, see them at games, and communicate with them on social media. Senior Meredith Burkhall says the entire team gets messages from girls after camp, who then attend games at Hilton Coliseum to watch the team.

“We get a great fanbase, and there's a lot of young girls, young kids that come to camp, that come to the games with their families and sit in the Junior Club section. I think a lot of those girls look up to us,” Burkhall told the Tribune.

Carleton, the Big 12 Player of the Year, is a legend in her hometown of Chatham, Ontario and a fan favorite in Ames. A soon-to-be WNBA draft pick, Carleton realizes the platform she has to positively influence girls. After a game last month, Carleton signed autographs in Hilton for nearly an hour.

“I've had so many people inspire me: My mom, coaches, teammates that I've had, so many strong women that I've looked up to, so if I can fill those shoes like they have for me, I think that's part of my reason for doing all of this,” Carleton told the Tribune.

Men's basketball has more visibility in Ames, in Iowa and across the country. But Fennelly points out the unique impact that a women's basketball team can have, because they can be more available to fans.

“There's probably, approximately about the same number of little boys in Ames as little girls,” Fennelly told the Tribune. “Sometimes, our impact can be even more dramatic than the guys', because we're more accessible.”

Women's basketball is more valued in Ames than it is in most places. Perennially, the women's team draws an average of nearly 10,000 spectators per game — roughly twice as much as the average Division I men's team.

Waite, Iiams and Hawthorne have been among those attendees numerous times. When they were younger, they hardly missed a game. What's more, ISU players played a direct role in their lives: attending games to support them and even attending their birthday party once. That didn't go unnoticed by the young basketball players.

“It kind of inspires you, like what you wanna see when you go to college, too, and what you wanna do, and how you wanna hopefully inspire others in the upcoming generations,” Iiams told the Tribune.

Of course, women's basketball has its detractors. Most people favor the men's game and some loudly knock the women's game for a variety of reasons. But Carleton pointed out that, for both, the process is the same.

“I think women are just as talented as men. Yeah, maybe men are stronger, faster, bigger, that's genetics, that's science, and that's hard to overcome. But the amount of work women put into their game, versus the men, it's the same thing,” Carleton told the Tribune. “The amount of mental skill it takes is the same. The amount of planning, recovery, time you put into the game is the exact same.

“So I think for anyone to compare like that, I don't think it's fair to women. I think it is important for people to talk about those things and to make people realize that, we are worth it, we are worthwhile to come and watch and support.”

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